Shaft lubrication system for continuous centrifugal



June 21, 1966 c. R. STEELE ETAL 3,257,235

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| IO9A L 1 .ii l: '9 II Ilx' 9o II| 7l I I. INVENToRs. I Clarence R. Sfee/e Frank B. Price BY June 21, 1966 c. R. sTEELE ET AL 3,257,235

SHAFT LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL 4 Original Filed 0G11. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVBNTORS- Clarence R. Steele Frank B. Pr/C@ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 9 claims. (ci. 12v-19) This is a division of application Serial No. 143,892, filed October 9, 1961.

The present invention relates to apparatus for continuous centrifugal treatment of massecuite and similar solutions. Massecuite is defined as a dense mass of sugar crystals mixed with mother liquor and usually obtained by evaporation. More particularly, the present invention relates to lubricating continuous centrifugal apparatus.

It is conventional to subject massecuite to separations in which lthe sugar crystals are recovered as a substantially dry product and the mother liquor, or molasses, is separately collected as a secondary product. One such treatment has been batch-centrifuging. Another treatment has entailed the use of continuous centrifugals, as they are termed in the art. Recent devel-opment Work in the sugar industry on continuous centrifugals has been directed to overcoming the tendency of sugar crystals to fracture and break during initial introduction thereof to the machines. This occurs during the time interval required by the massecuite to attain the speed of the centrifugal basket. Until speed is attained excessive wear on the basket results.

One solution of the problem has .been provided Vby continuous centrifugals which operate according to the thin layer principle; and in which massecuite feed material enters a iirst stage in -which it is brought up to the speed of a centrifuge basket before passing to its screening area and thereafter moves as a thin layer or hlmacross the screening surfaces of the basket in the actual centrifugal separation.

In the above identified parent application generally there is disclosed centrifugal apparatus including spaced inner and outer housings `forming a chamber for centrifugal sugar or solution therebetween. A substantially frusto conical basket of particular construction is mounted for high speed rotation within the inner housing. A novel arrangement for separating liquids discharging from the basket 4and yfor mistcontrol is provided. An inlet to the basket for solids-containing solution or viscous sugar solution is provided. Outlets are provided for conducting separated liquid fractions from the apparatus and for removing separated solids or sugar from the apparatus.

It is an object of our invention 4to provide a simple, eiiicient and economical method for centrifugal massecuite and similar solids-containing solutions which eliminates excessive wear on the equipment used in practicing the process.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable -and eflicient continuous centri-fuging apparatus which is adapted for long periods of operation Without service or maintenance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and efficient lubricating system for continuous centrifugal apparatus which insures immediate lubrication of moving parts after protracted periods of shut-downs. i

Usually, continuous centrifugals for treatment of massecuite are used but a few months of each year followed by relatively long periodsof inactivity. Such inactivity results in condensation of moisture in the lubricating system of such apparatus and the moisture produces a corrosive action which must be counteracted by thorough cleansing and protective covering which adds substantially to maintenance costs.

The practice of this invention will be described with reference to the accompanying dra-wings. In the dra-wings, in the several views of which like parts Ibear similar reference numerals:

FIG. l is a partial section of the bearing and support structure for a centrifugal basket; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary and somewhat schematic side elevation of a portion of the circuiting arrangement for the lubrication system of the centrifugal apparatus of FIG. l.

The spindle assembly within housing 70 is shown in detail in FIG. 1 T-he lower end of shaft 22 is shown as broken away in order to clearly show key which interconnects sheave 71 and the stub shaft in driving relation. sembly comprises an upper bearing support unit 91 and a lower bearing support unit 92. Upper bearing support unit 91 includes a support bracket 93 held in place by bolts 94 interconnecting a casting 94A and a top ange 94B of housing 70. O-rings 95 and 96 provide a iiuid tight seal between these parts.

A bearing assembly 97 is seated on a lower extension 98 of support bracket 93 at this top of stub shaft 22. A lower flanged member 99 is seated on an annular rib 101 on stub shaft 22 an O-ring 100 provides a fluid tight seal bet-Ween flanged member 99 and shaft 22. An upwardly and outwardly ilared cup 102 is carried by flanged member 99 in spaced and encompassing relation to bearing assembly 97. The top of cup 102 is disposed at a higher elevation than bearing assembly 97 and lubricating duid is maintained .therein so as to completely immerse the bearings of the bearing assembly 97 when the centrifugal is shut down and inoperative. from the conduit 83 (FIG. 2) passes through orice 83A, conduit 83B and flows through an inlet 103 into cup 102. A removable plug 104 is mounted in support bracket 93 permitting access to inlet 103. `A lower bearing arrangement includes a lower support bracket 105 for bearing assembly y106 and bearing 106A `disposed about the stepped or swaged portion 22B of stub shaft 22. An upwardly and outwardly divergin-g cup 107 is mounted 4for rotation on the shaft adjacent bearing assembly 106 and is adapted to hold suicient lubricating fluid to completely'immerse bearing 106A when the centrifugal in inactive. O-ring 22C is disposed between stepped portion 22B and cup 107.

The bearings in each assembly 97 and 106 are thereby submerged in lubricating fluid at all times when the apparatus is inactive. The cups 102 and 107 extend below the respective bearing assemblies to accumulate condensate below the bearings when the apparatus is inactive.

Cup 107 overhangs a chamber or reservoir 108 defined by a dish-shaped member 109A having an outlet 109. Lubricating fluid is circulated by the pump 87 (FIG. 2) through a conduit 83 to enter an inlet 83A and flows through a conduit 83B into inlet 103 as the supply to the upper cup 102. The hollow interior of housing 70 provides a passage or contined zone through which lubricating fluid overilowing or ejected across the peripheral rim of cup 102, falls in gravity discharge to enter openings or ports 105A interiorly of support bracket 105 to submerge and penetrate around bearing 106 to fill cup 107.

Lubricating fluid descending through housing 70 and lling cup 107 overflows or is ejected therefrom and descends into a collecting chamber 108 having a por-t or discharge outlet 109 into which return conduit 84 is fitted.`

The bearing support structure of the spindle asl Lubricating fluid` The aforesaid arrangement by combining induced flow and gravity distribution effectively lubricates the shaft bearings during the high speed rotation of the centrifugal basket, and also provides a fluid seal for moving parts whic-h effectively offsets the tendency toward aqueous condensate corrosion usually occurring during shut-downs or periods of inactivity of such equipment.

When the centrifugal is operating, pump 87 is circulating the lubricating fluid continuously and in such action lubricating fluid is ejected by the centrifugal movement of cup 102 continuously and falls by gravity to enter ports 105A and flow around bearing 106 to penetrate into cup 107. As cup 107 tends to fill, the centrifugal action of the cup ejects said fluid across its peripheral rim to pass into chamber S'and thence through port 109 into return conduit 84.

Similarly, when the centrifugal rotation terminates, the circulating discharge of pump 87 fills cup 102 as its ejection capacity diminishes, and when full cup 102 overflows to fill cup 107. As the top of each cup is at a higher elevation than the associated bearings, filling of such cups serves to keep the bearings completely submerged in the lubricating fluid during periods of inactivity, and thus effectively prevents any corrosive action. Surplus fluid overflows cup 107 to enter chamber 108 and returns through line 84 to the lubricating supply tank.

Changes and modifications in the combination, arrangement and functioning of parts may be availed of within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

We claim:

1. In continuous centrifugal apparatus having spaced inner andouter housings forming a chamber for centrifuged sugar therebetween, a substantially frusto conical centrifuge basket mounted for high speed rotation within the inner housing, an inlet for viscous sugar solution to be treated, and a peripheral discharge passage from the basket to the sugar chamber, the improvement which comprises a shaft supported for high speed rotation in upper and lower bearing members disposed in hollow enclosures including rotatable cup-like members mounted on the shaft adjacent each bearing member and of greater vertical extent than the bearing member so as to maintain the friction surfaces thereof completely-submerged when the cup-like member is filled with lubricating fluid after rotation stops, there being a passage for flow of ejected lubricating fluid from the upper cup-like member to the lower cup-like member, means for delivering a continuous flow of lubricating fluid to said upper cup-like member during rotation of said shaft, and means for recirculating overflow fluid from said lower cup-like member through the fluid delivery means to the upper cup-like member.

2. In continuous centrifugal apparatus having a centrifuge basket mounted for rotation, the improvement which comprises a shaft supported for high speed rotation in upper and lower bearing members disposed in hollow enclosures including rotatable cup-like members mounted on the shaft adjacent each bearing member and of greater vertical extent than the bearing member so as to maintain the friction surfaces thereof completely submerged when the cup-like member is filled with lubricating fluid after rotation stops, there being a passage for flow of ejected lubricating fluid from the upper cup-like member to the lower cup-like member, means for delivering a continuous flow of lubricating fluid to said upper cup-like member during rotation of said shaft, and means for recirculating overflow fluid from said lower cup-like member through the fluid delivery means to the upper cup-like member.

3. In continuous centrifugal apparatus having spaced basket to the sugar chamber, the improvement which comprises a shaft supported for high speed rotation in upper and lower bearing members disposed in hollow enclosures including rotatable cup-like members mounted on the shaft adjacent each bearingmember and of greater vertical extent than the' bearing member so as to maintain the friction surfaces thereof completely submerged when the cuplike member is filled with lubricating fluid after rotation stops, there being a passage for flow of ejected lubricating fluid from the upper cup-like member to the lower cuplike member, means for delivering a continuous flow of lubricating fluid to said upper cup-like member during rotation of said shaft, means for recirculating overflow fluid from said lower cup-like member through the fluid delivery means to the upper cup-like member, and said recirculating means being constructed and arranged to deliver suiiicient lubricating fluid to said upper cup-like member when shaft rotation terminates to completely fill the upper and lower cup-like members so as to maintain.the associated bearings completely submerged while the apparatus is inoperative.

4. In continuous centrifugal apparatus having .a centrifuge basket mounted for rotation, the improvement which comprises a shaft supported for high speed rotation in upper and lower bearing lmembers disposed in K hollow enclosures including rotatable cup-like members mounted on the shaft adjacent each bearing member and of greater vertical extent than the bearing member so as to maintain the friction surfaces thereof completely submerged when the cup-like member is filled with lubricating fluid after rotation stops, there being a passage for flow of ejected lubricating fluid from the upper cup-like member vto the lower cup-like member, means for delivering a continuous flow of lubricating fluid to said upper cup-like member during rotation of said shaft, means for recirculating overflow fluid from said lower cup-like member through the Ifluid delivery means to the upper cup-like member, and said recirculating means being constructed and arranged to deliver sufficient lubricating fluid to said upper cup-like member when shaft rotation terminates to completely fi'll the upper and lower cup-like mem-bers so as to maintain the associated bearings completely submerged while the apparatus is inoperative.

5. In continuous centrifugal apparatus having spaced inner and outer housings forming .a chamber for centrifuged vsugar therebetween, a substantially frusto conical centrifuge-basket mounted for high speed rotation within the inner housing, an inlet `for viscous sugar solution to be treated, and a peripheral discharge passage from the basket to the sugar chamber, the improvement which comprises a shaft supported for high speed rotation in upper and lower bearing members disposed in hollow enclosures including dished lubricant containers mounted for conjoint rotation -with said shaft for ejecting lubricating fluid during rotation, there being a passage for flow of ejected lubricating fluid from the upper container to the lower container, means for delivering a continuous flow of lubricating fluid tosaid upper container during rotation -of said shaft, and means for recirculating ejected fluid from said lower container through the fluid delivery means to said upper container.

6. In continuous centrifugal apparatus having a centrifuge basket mounted for rotation, the improvement which comprises a shaft supported for high speed rotation in upper and lower bearing members disposed in hollow enclosures including dished lubricant containers mounted for conjoint rotation with said shaft `for ejecting lubricating fluid during rotation, there being a passage for flow of ejected lubricating fluid from the upper container to the lower container, means for delivering a continuous flow of lubricating fluid to said upper container during rotation of said shaft, and means for recirculating ejected fluid from said lower container through the fluid delivery means to said upper container.

7. In a high speed vertical spindle assembly, the improvement which comprises a shaft supported for rotation in upper and lower lbearing members disposed in hollow enclosures including rotatable cup-like members mounted on the shaft adjacent each bearing member and of vgreater vertical extent than the bearing member so as to maintain the friction surfaces thereof completely submerged when the cup-like member is filled with lubricating uid after rotation stops, there being a passage for How of ejected lubricating fluid from the upper cup-like member to the lower cup-like member, means for delivering a continuous flow of lubricating fluid to said upper cup-like member during rotation of said shaft, yand means for recirculating overflow fluid from said lower cup-like member through the iluid delivery means to the upper cup-like member.

8. In continuous centrifugal apparatus having a centrifuge basket mounted for rotation, the improvement which comprises a shaft supported for high speed rotation in upper and lower bearing members disposed in hollow enclosures including rotatable cup-like members mounted -on the shaft adjacent each bearing member and extending above the upper extent of the bearing member so as to submerge the bearing member in lubricating uid at all times when the apparatus is inactive, there being a passage for flow of ejected lubricating fluid from the upper cup-like member to the lower cup-like member, means `for delivering va continuous flow of lubricating -uid to said upper cup-like member during rotation of said shaft, and means for recirculating overflow fluid from said lower cup-like member through the uid delivery Imeans to the upper cup-like member.

9. `In -continuous centrifugal apparatus having ya centrifuge basket mounted for rotation, the improvement` which comprises a shaft supported for high speed rotation in upper and lower bearing members disposed in hollow enclosures including rotatable cup-like members mounted on the shaft adjacent each bearing member and extending below the lower extent of the bearing member so as to provide a container below the bearing member for condensate accumulation when the apparatus is inactive, there being a passage for low of ejected lubricating lluid from the upper cup-like member to the lower cup-like member, means for delivering a continuous flow of lubricating-fluid to said upper cup-like 4member during rotation of said shaft, and means for recirculating overow lluid from said lower cup-like member through the fluid delivery means to the upper cup-like member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,254,455 9/ 1941 Sorenson `210--369 X 2,686,992 8/1954' Kndt et al 184--6 X 2,796,990 6/1957 Peck 184-6 X MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner.

i M. E. ROGERS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS HAVING SPACED INNER AND OUTER HOUSINGS FORMING A CHAMBER FOR CENTRIFUGED SUGAR THEREBETWEEN, A SUBSTANTIALLY FRUSTO CONICAL CENTRIFUGE BASKET MOUNTED FOR HIGH SPEED ROTATION WITHIN THE INNER HOUSING, AN INLET FOR VISCOUS SUGAR SOLUTION TO BE TREATED, AND A PERIPHERAL DISCHARGE PASSAGE FROM THE BASKET TO THE SUGAR CHAMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A SHAFT SUPPORTED FOR HIGH SPEED ROTATIONIN UPPER AND LOWER BEARING MEMBERS DISPOSED IN HOLLOW ENCLOSURES INCLUDING ROTATABLE CUP-LIKE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT ADJACENT EACH BEARING MEMBER AND OF GREATER VERTICAL EXTENT THAN THE BEARING MEMBER SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE FRICTION SURFACES THEREOF COMPLETELY SUBMERGED WHEN THE CUP-LIKE MEMBER IS FILLED WITH LUBRICATING FLUID AFTER ROTATION STOPS, THERE BEING A PASSAGE FOR FLOW OF EJECTED LUBRICATING FLUID FROM THE UPPER CUP-LIKE MEMBER TO THE LOWER CUP-LIKE MEMBER, MEANS FOR DELIVERING A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF LUBRICATING FLUID TO SAID UPPER CUP-LIKE MEMBER DURING ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, AND MEANS FOR RECIRCULATING OVERFLOW FLUID FROM SAID LOWER CUP-LIKE MEMBER 